Washington (CNN) - New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent, will join several leading Democratic, Republican and other independent political leaders in the launch of a new group that hopes to find non-partisan solutions to some of the nation's problems and to impact the next Congressional session.

The organization, known as No Labels, kicks off Monday in New York with a series of panels discussing some key political problems in America and how it can help find common ground.
Besides Bloomberg, among the participants in Monday's event are: Sens. Evan Bayh, D-Indiana; Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York; Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia; Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut; Reps. Mike Castle,

R-Delaware and Bob Inglis, R-South Carolina; Former Republican congressman Tom Davis and Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist, ran for Senate this year as an Independent.

Led by columnist and CNN contributor John Avlon, Republican political consultant Mark McKinnon and Democratic consultant Kiki McLean, the No Labels group aims to look at politics through a new prism and wants to urge political leaders not to abandon their political labels but set them aside in order help find solutions.

"No Labels will create a space where ideas can be judged on the merits, not their conformity to pre-fabricated stereotypes. The point is not whether America moves left or right; it's whether we move forward.

And that's what the majority of Americans are yearning for," the group describes its mission.

Veteran political analyst Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution said it will be difficult for this type of group to change the political dynamics.

"They are obviously confronting very strong head winds," but added, "Why not throw something into the mix?"

Bloomberg grabbed national headlines with a speech this week saying government should chart "a middle way" to help fix the economy and attacking today's political climate.

"The country is growing more and more frustrated with government's inability to keep America prosperous and fair and more skeptical that the jobs we need are coming soon. As families struggle to get by, they have seen little but partisan gridlock, political pandering and legislative influence-peddling," Bloomberg said as he outlined steps to tackle unemployment, spur job creation and push growth.

"Both parties follow the mood of the moment – instead of leading from the front. They incite anger instead of addressing it – for their own partisan interests."

Aides to Bloomberg said he does not have plans to run for President in 2012 although his speech and involvement in this type of effort are stoking speculation.

"You can see why Bloomberg is involved," Mann told CNN. It helps "to create a market for an independent candidacy."

"We have seen these efforts before to explore some alternative, a third party candidacy...they haven't gone anywhere," Mann added.

With the Republicans taking control of the House, it is unclear what its impact will be on the political climate in Washington.

Recently there have been some bipartisan efforts in Washington to try to come up with solutions particularly regarding the nation's growing debt. However, political experts are doubtful those initiatives will result in any concrete action in the near future.

"I am skeptical of any short-term agreement between the two parties on the big fiscal questions confronting the country. There are real differences" that will have to be argued out in the political process, Mann said.

He added any effort that cold help bring some honesty and clarity to the political debate will help the process.

Group officials say they expect more than 1,000 ordinary citizens from all 50 states to participate in the launch event Monday. They are aiming to build chapters in all 435 congressional districts.

Polls after the election have shown Americans want political leaders to reach across the political aisle to get things done. Fourty seven percent said it is more important to compromise to get things done than to stick to their beliefs, according to a USA Today-Gallup poll last month.

According to state registration statistics, about a quarter of Americans on average consider themselves as independent. In several states the number of people registered as independents tops those affiliated with either political party: Alaska, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island.

There will also be a little jamming at the Monday kickoff with a performance by Grammy-nominated singer Akon, who will perform a song he wrote and recorded titled "No Labels."

soundoff(13 Responses)

Kenneth Close

Thank You CNN I needed a good laugh to get me up today.

December 10, 2010 04:01 pm at 4:01 pm |

T'sah from Virginia

"...Democratic, Republican and other independent political leaders in the launch of a new group that hopes to find non-partisan solutions to some of the nation's problems and to impact the next Congressional session..."

You cannot be NON-partisan and include all of the above... IMPOSSIBLE!!! If everyone got along – things can get done. If everybody was not worrying about the next election – things would get done.... My CASE and My POINT!!!

December 10, 2010 04:05 pm at 4:05 pm |

Ed Hendrick

Mike Bloomberg is a proven performer with a history of clear and straight talk and has risen above and beyond any political ideology. I appreciate whatever sanity he can bring to the national situation.

December 10, 2010 04:12 pm at 4:12 pm |

prentog

I like this idea. I'm sure a lot of people will get behind this. Especially with what we have seen this week and what is about to happen with a divided congress.

December 10, 2010 04:20 pm at 4:20 pm |

concerned liberal

Obama promised us the Big Change, but now he is just a part of the DemoPublicRepOcrat landscape.
People are tired of the same old political nonsense and essentially One Party.
Support your favorite 3rd party – let's shake it up a little. I guess that should be 2nd party.

December 10, 2010 04:31 pm at 4:31 pm |

Dorothy from Houston

I'm a member of No Labels and many of us who have joined are tired of the country being held hostage by extremists on the right and left. If we don't start solving problems soon, we're going to self-destruct. Join us.

December 10, 2010 04:34 pm at 4:34 pm |

Marie MD

I would follow Bloomberg because he has proven time and time again that he has what it takes to be successful. The next thing he needs to work on is to have the bimbo and the eunuch from AK expelled from the US as traitors.

December 10, 2010 04:41 pm at 4:41 pm |

Wilson

I have seen the nutty stuff Bloomberg says and it doesn't represent anything in the middle or non-partisan. I bet he is ramping up to run for President and I can't think of any worse than Bloomberg, Obama and Palin. None of those three are going to lead this country from the middle and all are incapable. God help us.

December 10, 2010 05:00 pm at 5:00 pm |

Dan

This is a good idea in premise, but it won't make it out of the gate, because it doesn't conform to the rigid ideals of conservatives. That was a joke, by the way. But, sadly, you and I both know that that's exactly how it'll play out, too. Sigh.

As we've seen the last few years, the GOP is fully willing to make compromises, as long as the deal favors them and enough concessions are made to the GOP.

December 10, 2010 05:02 pm at 5:02 pm |

Wire Palladin, S. F.

Would anyone be listening to this Palin wannabe if he wasn't rich?

December 10, 2010 05:04 pm at 5:04 pm |

Hot Dog

I could support this ideaolgy for solving the existing problems that we have in this country. We have elected officials that claim that they have the country's best interest at heart when it comes to solving its problem but it always end up being all about partisan politics. The problems that are facing this country are too serious for this kind of foolishness.

December 10, 2010 05:14 pm at 5:14 pm |

Louis Drummond

Well, there is one title, regardless of what political party you follow that we should all be concerned about – American.

The political parties are a big letdown. They are more concerned with pushing their own narrow agenda, special interests and gettting reelected than handling the American's people business, especially with so many hurting economically. It would be nice to have the differences put aside and people could come together for the greater good of the American people. I applaud Mr. Bloomberg and I hope he and the other continue with their efforts.

December 10, 2010 05:15 pm at 5:15 pm |

stufit

Careful Mayor Bloomberg, you are about to be demeaned and degraded by the drug addled left. You are getting a sample of their racial, antifeminist, hateul talk in the responses here. They hate people that might take responsibility for their own lives, work and pay taxes. Remember, if you talk any kind of common sense or responsibility, you become their enemy. If you are honest, not corrupt, you are their much hated enemy.